Objective To investigate the role of negative-regulatory factors of toll-like receptors (TLRs)signal pathways in immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease(KD).Methods Thirty-two chil- dren with Kawasaki disease and 16 age-matched healthy children were studied.Reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR)and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4,TRAF6,T1/ST2,IRAK-M,Triad 3A,and proinflammatory factors such as IL-1?, IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-?,in peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages(MC).The expression of TLR4 protein in MC was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results①Compared with the control group,the mRNA levels of TLR4, MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4 and TRAF6 in KD group were up-regulated significantly(P＜0.01),and the expression level of TLR4 protein was also found to be up-regulated in KD group during acute phase.It was detected that expression levels of TLR4 protein in KD with coronary artery lesion(KD-CAL~+)was significantly higher than that of KD without coronary artery lesion(KD-CAL-)[flow cytometry:(6.5?1.7)% vs(11.9_+2.4)%,P＜0.01].②The expression level of negative-regulatory factors such as IRAK-M and Triad3A were significantly up-regulat- ed in acute phase of Kawasaki disease,while the mRNA levels of IRAK-M and Triad3A in KD-CAL~+ group was found to be significantly lower than those of KD-CAL~- group(P＜0.01).No difference of T1/ST2 mRNA expres sion level was detected among all groups(P＞0.05).③The expressions of proinflammatory eytokines such as IL-1?, IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-?in monoeytes/macrophages during acute phase of Kawasaki disease were higher than those of the control group(P＜0.01),and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in KD-CAL~+ group was significantly higher than that of KD-CAL~- group.Conclusion Relative insufficient expression of negative-regulatory factors, such as IRAK-M and Triad3A,maybe correlate with immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.

Objective To analyze the endemic features of plague in Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, discover the law of occurrence and progression, in order to provide a scientific basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods Descriptive epidemiology was employed to analyze the data from on the spot investigation, monitoring reports and papers published between 2000 and 2009. The indicators included the area, host and media distribution of animal plague and area, time, and population distribution of human plague.Results In Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, 189 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from a variety of animals and insect vectors, including 77 from the marmot, accounting for 40.74%, 40 from Callopaylla dolabris,accounting for 21.16%. Positive serum antibodies against F1 plague were detected in 238 samples, including 90 samples from husbandry dogs, 63 from woodchucks. The areas with Yersinia pestis were consistent with the areas with positive serum antibodies against F1 plague, which distributed mainly along the Qinghai-Tibet railway Wulan county, Delhi and Golmud Multi-county;confirmed that there was natural foci of plague in Qinghai vole. Between 2000 and 2009, 13 events of human plague occurred, with 37 cases and 16 patients died, mortality was 43.24%.Cases were distributed in 11 townships of Tongde, Xinghai, Qilian, Wulan, Tianjun, Nangqian, Qumalai,Chengduo and Zhiduo counties. May to October was the disease season, with September the peak. Pneumonic plague disease type was the main mode of transmission of the plague and patients often contacted with airborne droplets through the air and peeling fresh Marmota. Conclusions Plague in Qinghai province is still grim,strengthening animal plague surveillance, and timely disposal of animal plague, improving the province's agricultural and pastoral areas, especially increase the disease prevention consciousness of the masses are future tasks. Work should be focused on strengthening the prevention and control of plague along Qinghai-Tibet railway,and prevent the occurrence and long-distance transmission of human plague.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between invasive pituitary adenomas and cavernus sinus and cariod artery and to predict their surgical outcomes.

METHODSTotally 270 patients with pituitary tumors were investigated in this retrospective study, including 113 men and 157 women, with a mean age of 40.8 years. The mean disease history was 3.6 years. Pituitary microadenomas were diagnosed in 56 cases, macroadenomas in 118 cases, and hugeadenomas in 96 cases. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing adenomas (Cushing's diseases) were diagnosed in 40 cases, growth hormone-releasing adenomas in 58 cases, prolactinomas in 57 cases, and non-functional pituitary adenomas in 115 cases. Transsphenoidal microsurgery were performed on 260 patients, while transcranial microsurgery on 6 patients.

RESULTSThe percentage of invasive pituitary adenomas was about 3.6% in microadenomas, 20.4% in macroadenomas, and 61.4% in hugeadenomas. Rate of total removal was 94.1% in non-invasive pituitary adenomas, and was 58.8% in invasive pituitary adenomas.

CONCLUSIONSIt is important to analyze the grade of invasive pituitary adenomas to improve the removal of pituitary adenomas, avoid injuring cariod artery, and increase the rate of total removal.

Adenoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; surgery ; Cavernous Sinus ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion ; pathology ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEUsing HPLC To determine hypoxanthine in co-hirudo injection for establishing its HPLC fingerprint, and evaluating its internal quality.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm). A linear gradient elution with A (0.01 mol x L(-1) x KH2PO4) and B (50% methanol) was used, the flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1), the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm, and the column temperature was at normal.

RESULTHypoxanthine was used as the reference substance in the fingerprint of co-hirudo injection, it showed 15 common peaks and theirs similarity threshod was 0.97.

CONCLUSIONThis method was accurate, repeatable and useful for the quality control of co-hirudo injection.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hypoxanthine ; chemistry ; Leeches ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

To investigate the technological parameters of the isolation and purification of 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam from Camptotheca acuminata seed by polyamide. The static arid dynamic adsorption characteristics of 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam on polyamide were studied, and the contents were determined by HPLC. The optimum parameters for adsorption were as follows: the contents of 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam in the extracts were 0.189 g x L(-1) and 0.334 g x L(-1), respectively, pH 6, flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), processing volume was 3 BV; for desorption: ethanol-water (60:40), flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), 5 BV as an eluent. After treated with polyamide, the contents of 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam were 17.52% and 32.87%, respectively, the recovery yields were 66.05% and 75.86%, respectively. Results showed that polyamide revealed a good ability to separate 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam. Therefore, we concluded that results in this study may provide scientific references for the large-scale production of 10-hydroxycamptothecin and vincoside-lactam extracted from C. acuminata seed.
Camptotheca ; chemistry ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nylons ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo isolate, identify and culture human spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and then obtain purified and enriched human SSCs for research and application.

METHODSWe detected the expression of CD90 in the human testis using the immunofluorescence technique and isolated human testicular spermatogenic cells by two-step enzymatic digestion, followed by differential plating and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) with CD90 as an SSC marker. Then we identified the isolated CD90-positive spermatogenic cells by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, and meanwhile cocultured them with Sertoli cells in SG medium in vitro.

RESULTSThe isolated CD90-positive cells showed a relatively homogeneous characteristic in size and morphology and expressed the genes specific for human SSCs, with high expressions (90.5%) of GFRA1, GPR125, and UCHL1. After coculture with Sertoli cells in the SG medium for 2 weeks, the isolated CD90-positive cells maintained a good activity.

CONCLUSIONCD90 can be regarded as a speci- fic marker for human SSCs and used to obtain highly enriched human SSCs by differential plating and MACS. Furthermore, the isolated human SSCs can be cultured in SG medium in vitro.

Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cell Shape ; Cell Size ; Coculture Techniques ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; Testis ; metabolism ; Thy-1 Antigens ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; metabolism

That eleven patients with sellar germinomas were confirmed by pathological examinations were retrospectively reviewed. In the 11 patients, 2 were males and 9 were females. Mean age was 16.8 years old and mean history was 2.6 years. Among them, 11 patients had diabetes insipidus, 6 patients had visual disturbances, 5 patients had retarded growth, and 5 patients had hypopituitary function. The diameter of tumor was 1-3 cm in 8 cases and greater than 3 cm in 3 cases. MRI showed hypointensity or homogeneous on T1-weighted images in 8 cases. The tumors were fibrous, purple grey or reddish in color with rich blood supply. Germinomas were confirmed by postoperative pathological examinations. All patients received postoperative irradiation. Postoperative follow-up was from 3 months to 6 years. Diabetes insipidus was improved in 9 cases. Visual function were improved in 4 cases, but hypopituitarism and retarded growth were unchanged. In conclusion, when MRI shows sellar parenchyma tumor with unclear boundary in young patients with diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism, sellar germinoma should be highly suspected. Otherwise, radiation therapy may profitably aid to confirm the diagnosis since irradiation is the main treatment of sellar germinomas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Germinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pineal Gland ; Pinealoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica

AIM:To investigate the synergistic effect of imperatorin on enhancing the anti -tumor effect of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL)on breast cancer and the mechanisms.METHODS:T-47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cells were divided into control group ,imperatorin group,TRAIL group,imperatorin+TRAIL group and imperatorin+TRAIL+death receptor 5(DR5)siRNA group.The viability of T-47D and MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential in T-47D cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Western blot and flow cytometry analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of DR 5 on T-47D cell surface and the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3.RESULTS:Imperatorin significantly enhanced the inhibition of cell viability induced by TRAIL of T -47D and MCF-7 cells,and significantly increased the apoptosis of T-47D cells induced by TRAIL.Imperatorin treatment ob-viously induced upregulation of DR5 expression and production of reactive oxygen species in the T-47D cells.In addition,imperatorin enhanced the TRAIL-induced damage of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase -8 and caspase-3.CONCLUSION:Imperatorin enhances the anti-tumor effect of TRAIL on breast cancer via upregulating the ex-pression of DR5.

Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy,survival rate of docetaxel + cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil (DCF) and docetaxel + cisplatin (DP) combined with chemo-radiotherapy regimens in patients with stage Ⅲ-ⅣB nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods A total of 230 patients with Ⅲ-Ⅳ B nasopharyngeal carcinoma in our hospital were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,115 cases in each group.Control group were received concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for 3 courses.On 1-3 d,patients were treated with intravenous infusion docetaxel (DTX) 100 mg · m-2,on second day intravenous infusion cisplatin (DDP) 75 mg · m-2,and 21 d a course.Treatment group were received 2 courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.On the first day,patients were given intravenous infusion docetaxel 75 mg · m-2,cisplatin 75 mg · m-2,1-5 d intravenous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 750 mg · m-2,and 21 d a course.During the treatment,the blood was examined every week,heart,lung and kidney function was reexamined every 2 weeks.The short-term efficacy,nasopharyngeal lesions and neck metastasis,lymph node regression,adverse drug reactions and survival rate were observed in two groups.Results After treatment,the tumor target volume in treatment group was (36.44 ± 4.29) cm3,the reduction rate was 25.63％,had no significant difference with those in control group,which were (36.36 ±5.10)cm3,25.92％ (P ＞0.05).The response rates of control group and treatment group were 99.13％ and 100.00％ (P ＞ 0.05).Patients in grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ stratified analysis showed that the overall survival(OS),metastasis free survival (MFS),tumor recurrent free survival (TRFS) in grade Ⅲ had significant difference in two groups (P ＜0.05).The OS,MFS,disease free survival (DFS) of grade Ⅳ in two groups all had significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of leucopenia,hemoglobin decreased,thrombocytopenia,nausea,vomiting and mucositis in two groups had significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with DP and concurrent radiotherapy,DCF chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy can prolong the overall survival rate of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma,but increase the incidence of adverse drug reactions.There is no significant difference between the two groups in short-term clinical effect.

The construction of a vertical ethical review committee for the Center for Disease Control(CDC)in Shanghai will be an important exploration of public health ethics in the field of disease prevention and control,which will provide a practical field for strengthening the public health ethics norms and management of the disease control system and enhancing the awareness of public health ethics of practitioners,as well as plays a positive role in promoting modern public health governance in CDC.The paper demonstrated the importance of construction from three aspects,including the concept,disciplinary scope,and governance practice of public health,namely,the vertical ethics review committee is a tangible means and tool for public health governance to follow the constraints and norms of public health ethics,and is a constraining carrier and concentrated embodiment of the value of population health orientation of the practicing public health ethics.Subsequently,it clarified the feasibility of the social environment of the close relationship between the CDC providing the construction of vertical ethics review committees,as well as the feasibility of the homogeneity characteristics of practice and scientific research in the CDC promoting the work scenarios and fields.Furthermore,from the perspective of management,the construction principles such as system principles,humanistic principles,responsibility principles,and efficiency principles were substantiated.The construction framework was proposed in terms of construction objectives,subjects,objects,and norms,to provide an innovative practice for the conception of the construction of regional public health ethics committees.